THE PERILS OP NEW GUINEA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 190, 10 September 1878, Page 4

THE PERILS OP NEW GUINEA.

Tho following letter from Mr Andrew Goldie to the Rev. James Macdonald, dated Port Moresby, May 1, has been published in the "' Sydney Morning Herald " :—

I have but ju3t returned from a very interesting cruise aiong the south-east cosst of Naw Guinea. One of iho objects of my going to the eastward was to render assistance to Captain Redlich. Our mission, 83 far as his interests were concerned was a failure, furiher than that wa got valuable information from native sources of the causes of tho mnssacro at Brooker Island, and what is likely toresuU from it. I have no doubt tbat the cause of the Europeans being murdered was brought about by M'Court ; in the eyes of the natives it would be just retribution. Tho rinn-lealors in tbe murder were (wo of Cnptuin Redli h's men, natives of New Britain. I refrain from •writing tho font of the causes of the murder, still I cannot pass over the matter without comment, and wii&out condemning the foooiish system which is generally pursued by vessels engaged at work such as these unfortunate men men were. I learn since I arrived here, thnt. tho Sandfly has gone down. It is a great mistake thnt they did not try to seo us first. If tbey are not extremely careful the natives will tako her and murder all hands. This may sound strange that one of Her Majesty's vessels should become a prey to Bavages, but wheu facts are knowu it is easily accomplished. The Sandfly is too small for such work. Among these islanders are men wbo can talk Enorlish, and who know as well es I do the strength of the Sandfly. They are arrow! with Sniders, and they have got 8000 Snider cartridges. Thßy have likewise five large revolvers ; in all about 30 stani of arms. Tbey are desperate men, well armed, who know thf ir position, and will value littlo their own lives. The Sandfly cannot anchor nt Broker, without getting within ran*e of their rifle3. To send a boat's crew ashore, overy man from cover in the bash could be shot without the slightest risk to themselves. I have likewise learned, from native sources thot they intend to tako one of Her Maj'-sfy'd vessels—at least to try. Thoy likewise ruu a danger from another source — rapid tides nnd calms. No vessel but ona such a3 tho Explorer, could do what W8 have accomplished. The currents run at least five knots. For q*'ite a hundred milts we had to sweep her with ihe oars ; it wjjs impossible at times to get an anchorage, and •wo ran great risk of the curreot draggins us on the reefs ; wo had three weeks of dead calm?, and suffered grent hardships for several days for want of water. We sweeped her to numerous coral islands in search of water, but could find none. We dared not call at any of the larger islands near Broker, as they were all ia tbo raissacre. At last wo fouod a haveu of safety at n group of islands not on the ch-u-t, which I propose to call Eidlich Group, in honor of Captain Ridlich. The position and bearings of these fruitful islands I will send next opportunity. Tho nearest point to Broker we reached wasabouttwo miles. We saw the iron houses belonging to Captain Ridlicb, but no natives visible,, •with tho glass, but we could hear them sound a threat of defiance, by means of a shell — a common custom in New Guinea. On Bramble Haven we found a part of Captain Ridlich's things. They were in tbe act of shifting the station to thut place when tbe murders were committed. The native report is that they likewise killed two Straitß natives wbo were left in charge there.

We fouud near the wreck at Bramble Haven, among tbe ashes where there had beeu a fire, tha rib-boues of a man; and I bave no doubl that they have eaten the men after killing tbem, as all the natives to the eastward are canuibals. Oa our way down the coast I discovered two splendid harbors — the fioest by far that I have seen on the New Guinea coast. If fact, the only harbor I know equalto them is Sydney. I claim the right of naming lhem Glasgow and Millport Harbors— the first in honor of tho Earl of Glasgow, and tbe second in honor of Millport in tbe Firth of Clyde. I have taken soundings and drown plans, which will be forwarded to the proper quarter. We likewise called at many places on the coast, more especially Cloudy Bay. We went up the Robinson Eiver; took soundings, and corrected many errors on the Admiralty chart; took soundings aU through the Bay. I consider Cloudy Bay should not be entered by any vessel of greater depth than the Explorer. We discovered a new river on the •west side of Cloudy Bay, which I have named the Blunden Eiver, in honor of one of my assistants. I took bearngs of many reef3 all along the coast, ind placed them on the chart, which will be handed to the Admiralty for the guidance ot others. I have in this trip collected 100 fresh skins of birds, different from those in the vicinity of Port Moresby, one especially, a beautiful parrot, the finest plumage bird of that class I have seen. I likewise collected a large and very valuable collection of curios, especially stone hatchets. We reached Port Moresby on April 30, having left that place on March 1, and having sailed at least 1000 miles in ungurveyed waters. There 10 of us all told — seven of ray party and tbree volunteers. The Explorer is only eight tons, so there was not much space for comfort. I think a good deal of $he appearance of the first porspecting

parly the Colonist brought down. It will be wise if no others follow till they make a roport. I intend to go inland wifh lhem next week if ifc ie possible to ford the river. When I return I will sail for Thursday Island, in about two weeks from tbis date, when I will send to you a lengthened reporfc of our Irip to the eastward. — I am, yours truly, Andrew Goldie. Port Moresby, May 1, 1878.